Air cushion lifting platform

ABSTRACT

An air cushion supported platform having dual inflatable diaphragms is described. The diaphragms are concentrically disposed. The inner diaphragm is attached to the platform and the outer diaphragm is attached to the inner diaphragm. The air outlet openings are so distributed that the air streams from the two diaphragms coact to produce lifting of the platform.

United. States Patent [191 Gaufillet I 1 CUSHION LIFIING PLATFORM [75] Inventor: Gerard D. Gaufillet, Binghamto [73] Assignee: Gagne Associates, Inc., Binghampton, NY. 1

22 Filed: Mar. 29, 1971 21 App1.No.: 128,993

[52] US. Cl ..180/124 [51] Int. Cl ..B60v 1/06 [58] [Field of Search ..180/124, 125, 128,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,161,247 12/1964 Mackie 180/124 Apr. 10,1973

3,327,799 6/ 1967 Guienne et a1. ..180/ 124 3,420,330 1/1969 Bliss ..180/128 3,613,822 10/1971 Mackieetal ..180/124X Primary Examiner-Kenneth H. Betts Attorney-Frederick E. Bartholy [57] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures Z8 24 H i 55 '30 PATENTED APR 1 01973 FIG.

WVE/VTOR GERARD o. GAUFILLET A T TORWE Y AIR-CUSHION LIFTING PLATFORM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to platforms or pads which are lifted by a fluid cushion produced by forcing air at super-atmospheric pressure to escape from orifices in a resilient inflatable body attached underneath the platform.

REFERENCE TO THE PRIOR ART The use of fluid cushion devices, often referred to as ground effect apparatus, has the advantage of distributing fluid, such as air or gas, over a large floor area across which the device is intended to travel. Basically, resilient inflatable toroidal bodies have been described as air chambers, e.g., in the GENERAL MOTORS EN- GINEERING JOURNAL, Fourth Quarter of 1966.

In the patent literature, attention is directed to Mackie, US. Pat. No. 3,243,004, in which a toroidal body in the form of a circular tube is so supported as to define a plenum chamber.

In the patent to Peterson et al., US. Pat. No. 2,918,183, an air cushion cargo handling system utilizes multiple-layer foam material of rectangular cross section having air pockets.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The efficiency of air cushion type load-bearing devices is directly related to the amount of escaping air necessary to produce a cushion and inversely related to the pressure required for satisfactory inflation of the resilient diaphragm to produce the required air cushion for lifting the material to be supported.

Accordingly, it is the primary'object of the present invention to increase the efficiency of fluid cushion type devices by a simple construction producing coact-- parent from the following description of the invention,

defined in particularity in the appended claims and taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. I is an elevational view in cross section of the lifting device; and

FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Referring to the Figures, it is seen, by way of example, that a platform 10, in the form of a disc, rests on two distinct toroidal-shaped inflatable diaphragms l1 and 12. Although any desired shape may be used, the circular configuration has proved most efficient. The diaphragms may comprisesheets of polyurethane or similar elastomeric material, heat-sealed or electronically welded at the seams and at intervals to form two distinct air chambers 13 and 14. In the center, the sealed sheets are pressedtogether to form a flat circular portion for attachment to the platform '10 by means of a plate 15 secured by screws l6, 17, 18 and 19 to a connecting block 20. The latter may extend vertically to serve as a locating stud for a load-bearing pallet if a where:

load-bearing surface larger than that of the platform 10 is desired. As a matter of fact, several lifting devices having the constructional features shown may be used to support a large load-bearing pallet.

The diaphragm or torus 11 is provided with an air inlet pipe 21 and, similarly, the torus 12 is provided with an air inlet pipe 22, both extending from the platform 10 to accommodate the connection of an air hose. As seen in FIG. 2, the torus 11 has air outlet orifices 23, 24, 25 and 26, strategically placed to direct air toward the center of the assembly. By virtue of the center supporting plate 15, the inner wall 27 of the torus 11 defines a central space, i.e., a plenum chamber 28 in which the air is confined when the device rests on the floor over which it is to be moved.

The outer diaphragm or torus 12 also has a plurality of air escape orifices 29, 30, 31 and 32. These are strategically so located as to direct the escaping fluid medium toward the underside of the torus 1 1.

As a matter of fact, the space between torus 11 and torus 12 forms a second plenum chamber 33 in which the air streams one escaping in a radial direction from chamber 28 and the other in the opposite direction from the torus 12 collide and coact to produce an air pressure in this chamber.

It will be seen from the description of the operation of the air cushion device that the air stream escaping from the chamber 14 of the inner torus l1 flows into the plenum chamber 28 and the air stream escaping from the chamber 13 flows toward the underside of the torus 12. These streams are coactive in producing an air cushion under the toroidal bodies.

In the operation of the lifting device herein shown and described, both chambers 13 and 14 are placed under proper super-atmospheric pressure when inlet pipes 21 and 22 are connected to a source of pressurized air. Thus, these bodies become inflated and expand. Air is forced out of openings 23, 24, 25 and 26 from the centrally located torus 11 and, similarly, air is forced to escape through the orifices 29, 30, 31 and 32 from the outer toroidal body 12. When the device rests on the floor, the escaping air is impeded due to the fact that the plenum chamber 28, as well as the outlet of the air from the orifices of torus 12, are sealed off. Due to super-atmospheric pressure, the air tending to escape from the plenum chamber 28 forms an air cushion under the torus 11, the air escaping in thedirection toward the outer torus 12. At the same time, air escaping from the openings 29, 30, 31 and 32 of the outer torus 12 counteracts this air flow. This increases the pressure in the plenum chamber 33, augmenting the air cushion and thereby increasing the lifting power of the assembly. The thin film of air so obtained forms the cushion over which the platform 10 and the load supported thereon may easily be moved.

Smooth flooring is generally necessary for efficient use of air cushion type'lifting devices so that proper sealing effect may be maintained, preventing the free escape of air.

The load capacity in pounds of an individual torus may be calculated by the following formula:

F= load capacity, in pounds 1r 3.14159 D outside diameter of non-inflated torus, in inches P= air pressure (PSI).

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific embodiments herein shown and described but departure may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departure from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What is claimed is:

1. An air cushion lifting platform comprising at least a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer inflatable diaphragms, said inner diaphragm being attached to the underside of said platform and having walls defining a plenum chamber, said outer diaphragm being attached to the periphery of said inner diaphragm, each of said diaphragms having an air inlet and a plurality of radially-distributed air outlet orifices.

2. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outlet orifices of said inner diaphragm are so disposed as to direct air into said plenum chamber.

3. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outlet orifices of said outer diaphragm are so disposed as to direct air toward the underside of said inner diaphragm.

4. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner diaphragm and said outer diaphragm are of toroidal shape, concentrically arranged, forming a plenum chamber therebetween. 

1. An air cushion lifting platform comprising at least a pair of concentrically disposed inner and outer inflatable diaphragms, said inner diaphragm being attached to the underside of said platform and having walls defining a plenum chamber, said outer diaphragm being attached to the periphery of said inner diaphragm, each of said diaphragms having an air inlet and a plurality of radialLy-distributed air outlet orifices.
 2. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outlet orifices of said inner diaphragm are so disposed as to direct air into said plenum chamber.
 3. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein the outlet orifices of said outer diaphragm are so disposed as to direct air toward the underside of said inner diaphragm.
 4. An air cushion lifting platform in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner diaphragm and said outer diaphragm are of toroidal shape, concentrically arranged, forming a plenum chamber therebetween. 